How do you reclaim mined land?

How do you reclaim mined land?

Reclamation includes the following steps: contouring of land; placement of topsoil or an approved substitute on the graded area; reseeding with native vegetation, crops and/or trees; and years of careful monitoring to assure success.

What is reclaiming a mine site?

​Reclamation is the combined process by which adverse environmental effects of surface mining are minimized and mined lands are returned to a beneficial end use. End uses may be open space, wildlife habitat, agriculture, or residential and commercial development.

How much does it cost to reclaim land after mining 2021?

The cost of reclaiming the remaining 850,000 acres is an estimated $26.3 billion, a price that will only increase if sites are left to degrade for decades more. Unreclaimed mine lands pose significant threats to nearby communities and ecosystems, and can contribute to global warming.

Can land be restored after strip mining?

After the coal is stripped, mine companies are legally required to do some restoration, which usually involves replacing the exploded soil and rock—rubble—covering it with a layer of topsoil, and seeding it with anything that will hold the ground together.

What is the meaning of strip mined?

strip mining, removal of soil and rock (overburden) above a layer or seam (particularly coal), followed by the removal of the exposed mineral.

How long does it take to reclaim a mine?

The amount of the bond must equal the amount of the proposed reclamation plan. The bond is not released to the operator until after the state or federal regulatory office has concluded that the reclamation is successful, which could be over 10 years after the reclamation process has been completed.

Why is reclamation so important?

Reclamation is necessary for the sustainability of land and for the good of humans. The constant need for raw materials in some areas means that there has to be a way for resources to recover after collection.

How much do abandoned mines cost?

There are approximately 500,000 abandoned hardrock mines in the United States, with an estimated cleanup cost as high as $54 billion.

How much does strip mining cost?

The estimated cost of reclaiming land strip-mined for coal in the West averaged $3,500 per acre in 1976, This was equivalent to 5 cents per ton of coal produced, or less than 1 percent of mine-mouth coal prices that year.

What happened to the land after mining?

In addition to physical landscape damage, mining operations create sediment containing heavy metals which settle into surrounding soil, or are carried by wind or water to contaminate rivers or other land areas. These metals aren’t biodegradable so the soil stays contaminated without corrective action.

What happens when a strip mine is reclaimed?

Many former strip mines are reclaimed with the goal of stabilizing the ground so that it doesn’t all run off with a heavy rainfall. Remnants of the rock and soil removed to expose coal are replaced with new material that’s graded and seeded, often with non­native species like autumn olive, which is known for holding soil.

What is the process of Reclamation in mining?

Mine reclamation. Mine reclamation is the process of restoring land that has been mined to a natural or economically usable state. Although the process of mine reclamation occurs once mining is completed, the planning of mine reclamation activities occurs prior to a mine being permitted or started.

How to restore a million acres of strip-mined land?

In Buchanan County, Virginia, a 2,600-acre former strip mine site is being restored with wildlife in mind: seeding with native plants, removing invasive species, improving the soil, and reintroducing an elk population. How to Restore a Million Acres of Strip-Mined Land? Bring in the Elk

How does reclaimed mine land affect the environment?

As a result, soil on reclaimed mine sites tends to be tightly compacted, which makes it difficult for vegetation to take root. A 2008 study published in the journal Ecological Applications found that reclaimed mine land was poorer in nutrients , had more severe storm runoff, and resulted in major changes to vegetation, wildlife, and soil structure.